THE TIMBER TRADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15553, 7 September 1912, Page 15

THE TIMBER TRADE.

BRISK SHIPPING. (Fnou Our OtrN ConnEsroxnEST.) AUCKLAND, September 6. The demand for New Zealand timber has 6hown'a marked increase this year. The principal buyers outside iho Dominion nro Australian firms, though steamers oecosBionally carry small consignments to ports in Groat Britain. Just recently tho barque Titania was chartered, and loaded a full cargo of kauri timber at Mercury Bay and Whanpaparapam (Great Harrier) for Liver- • pool direct. Whito pine and kauri is wanted in Sydney and Melbourne in all lemrllis, but, although the supply nt the various timber ports lias been rpiilo up to Hie' demand _ in all classes, shippers liavo met with difficulties on every hand in securing tonnage. This has fen duo to u great extent to tho extraordinary boom in tho coal trade calling { 0 r all tho steamers that were available. Owing to tho strikes at Home, hoeovcr, thcro are at present very few big steamers in New Zealand waters, and, as a result, there h?s been a decided slackening off in Iho amount .of blinker coal required, and firms have had an opportunity of laying in a supply ashore and on tho hulks.

Shipowners aro now prepared to accept reasonable chartors for the transportation of lumber. During tho last fow months a tremendous amount of sawn timber has boon accumulating ut both Hokianga and Kaipara owing to the scarcity of tonnago for transportation, and now an effort is being rondo to copo with tho big orders inado by Australian dealers. Several of llio cargo barque* liavo returned lo those 'ports from Australia and loaded limber back' without visiting Auckland as usual. The Kamona is at present loading in the Knipara for tho Union tympany; tho Whahgapo is to follow shortly, and another Union' steamer haa been fixed to carry a tlinibcr cargo from the "ame port nt a hwro distant date.

It is seldom that there is not a sailing fillip on tho loading berth for timber at Auckland. Tim baroucs Romt and Northern iChiof and tho vessels of tho Crnig fleet, as n rule, load large consignments of kauri and while pino for Sydney or Melbourne. Formerly comparatively littin timlwr was shipped from Auckland, it being tho practice of sailors lo discharge coal hero and proceed to northern norts to load limber back to Australia. Since tho opening of tho Mam Trunk lino through to Wellington," however, timber mills liavo been started all through tho To Kniti and TunJiiaruijui districts, and the sawn timbor is brought to Auckland by rail. The us. Joan Craig loaded n considcrnWo quantity of pino at Auckland prior to;failing for Hokianga n nd Knipara on Tuesday, but us n rulo steanicrs fill up nt tho northern limber ports, where b!jr lines can be obtained right from tho niills, nnd sail for bydney or Mclboiirno-direct. Although Largo.quantities „f whito pino are being utilised by Australian firms for tho conB"ruction of butter boxes, it appears that lines .which are not suitable for that purpose aro made up into furniluro. White pino takes the slain-much inoro freely than timber of a lictter cln6s, nnd, by employing Chinese labour, it is found possible to produce a really presentable article at a small cost.